Pyrophoric lighter



Aug. 28, 1951 c. ZELLWEG ER PYROPHORIC LIGHTER 2 Sfieets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 17, 1948 .[N'VENTOR Conrad Zellweo'er.

AT TOPNEY C. ZELLWEGER PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Aug. 28, 1951 Sheet 2 2 Sheets- Filed Dec. l'7, 1948 8 Confad Zellw INVEN TOR eo'er.

I I m) A TTO RN E Y Patented Aug. 28; 1951 f V PYROPHORIC LIGHTER ConradZellweger, Pregny, Switzerland, assignor to La Nationale S. A., Geneva,Switzerland, a

corporation of Switzerland Application December 17, 1948, Serial No.65,777

In Switzerland February 12, 1948 On the market are available variouscombustible fluid lighters, that is to say of which the containercontains a liquid or gaseous fuel at the normal temperature of use, thatis to say about 20 C. Some of these lighters are provided with a feedmember allowing of adjustment of the delivery of fuel feeding the flameof the lighter. These adjusting devices are generally constituted byblades, needle adjusters, valves and other known devices of this typewherein the adjustment of the delivery is obtained by modification ofthe position of a movable member relatively to a stationary member. Itis, however, extremely diiilcult to render this type of adjustingdevices entirely fluidtight to fluids.

The present invention has for its object a device for supplying fuelunder pressure to the flame of a lighter with fluid fuel contained in acontainer secured to the body of the lighter or removable. The device isdistinguished from known devices by the fact that it has a passage ofwhich at least a portion of one of the walls is deformable and of whichthe deformation determines the free passage area for the fuel.

Some forms of construction of the device according to the invention areshown diagrammatically and by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a lighter provided with a device accordingto a first form of construction.

Fig. 2 is a view in partial section of the device.

Fig. 3 is a view in partial section on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in section of a lighter provided with a second form ofconstruction of the device.

Fig. 5 is a view in section of a lighter provided with a third form ofconstruction of the device.

Fig. 6 is a view in section of a lighter provided with a deviceaccording to a fourth form of construction.

Fig. 7 is a view in plan of the lighter shown in Fig. 6, the cover beingremoved.

Fig. 8 is a view in partial section, to a larger scale of a lighterprovided with a device according to a fifth form of construction.

Fig. 9 is a view in partial section to a larger scale of a deviceaccording to a sixth form of construction.

Fig. 10 is a view to a larger scale of another form of construction, thepassage being closed.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view the passage being open.

According to the form of construction shown in a e Claims. (01. (av-7.1)

2 fitted with a cover 2. The latter is hinged to the body I by means ofa hinge.

In the same manner as other known lighters, that shown in Fig. 1 isprovided with a lighting device comprising a friction wheel 3 turning ona spindle 4 secured to the body I and against which a pyrophoric element5 is applied by means of a spring 6 located in a tube 1 secured to thebody I. The latter encloses a fuel tank 8, containing a fluid fuel underpressure and connected by a passage 9 to a burner formed, in the exampleshown in Fig. 1, by the orifice ll] of the passage, which is located inproximity to the friction wheel 3. The passage 9, limited by the innerwall of a metal tube H, is provided with a device for feeding fuel tothe burner. This device is formed by a local crushing I2 of the walls ofthe tube II which is thus provided at this point with a reduction in itsinternal cross section, a local increase in its flexibility and acurvature of its centre line The feed device is provided with two stopsl3 and [4. One, l3, adjustable in position, is movable in the directionsof flexing of the tube II; the other H located along the axis ofmovement of the stop l3, subjected to a resilient action tending tomaintain the tube H in contact with the stop I3. This resilient actionis generated by a spring [5 bearing against the body of the jlighter.

The operation of the device described is as follows:

When by a thrust applied to the tube II the flexing increases thecurvature in the vicinity of the constriction, the compression of thefibres .in the interior of the curvature and the extension of thefibres'on the outside of the curvature result in an approach of the twowalls of the tube which may even, if the flexing is sufficient, comeinto contact with one another and close completely the passage 9. Whenhowever, the flexing takes place in the opposite direction, it producesan enlargement of the passage left free for the passage of the fuel.

By modifying the position of the adjustabl stop [3, it becomes possibleto modify the cross sectional area of the passage remaining free at thepoint of crushing l2 and thus to adjust the delivery of fuel feeding theburner ID or the flame of the lighter when this is lighted. A sufficientmovement of the adjustable stop l3 in a direction towards the right ofFig. 1, even provides the possibility of closing completely the passagecon v heating the tank to the burner.

'In the form of construction shown, a cam l6 It will be understood thatin a modification of the feed device described above, the metal tube IImay be replaced by a'tube of any other material having a sufficientmodulus of elasticity to allow of the resilient deformation of its wallsat the crushing point I2 so as to'produce closure of the passage 9 andthe re-establishment of communication between its upflow and downflowparts.

By the selection of the material forming the tube II and the treatmentsof the latter it is possible to achieve'that the natural resiliency ofthe tube at the point of crushing tends to maintain this always in oneextreme position, inwhich the passage is open or closed. In this case itis possible to omit one of the stops acting on the tube I I.

In order to further improve the fluidtightness obtained by the cominginto contact of the internal walls of the tube II, it is possible in amodified form of construction of the device described, above, to providethe tube II with an inner lining of resilient material softer than thatof the walls of the tube and promoting intimate contactbetween theopposite inner walls of the passage 9.

It will be understood that the device above described may be conceivedin multiple ways and different forms of construction some of which bythe natural resiliencyof the tube in its bent portions. When thisresiliency proves insufficient, the ring I? may be held in contact withthe stop 18 by the action of a spring. The stop I9 is formed by a screwhaving an axial bore I9 providing a passage for the tube II and screwedinto the upper wall 20 of the body .I of the lighter.

The cover carries a pusher 2.1 adapted to act, durin the closing of-thecover, on the end of the tube II and to push it back. a

suflicient amount so as to produce such a. de-

formation of the walls .at the crushed points-such that theircorresponding parts come into .con-

tact with one another and :close the passage '9 inafluidtight manner.

Further by adjusting stop IBit is possible for the user to adjust thefree cross sectional area in the bendsformed by the tube :1 and thus toadjust the .deliveryof fuel feeding the flame of the lighter.' f

the axial position offthe by the stop 23.

which, on closing the cover, acts on the free end of the lever 24 so asto move the stop 23 in 4 of the sleeve He is pressed against astationary support 22 by a stop 23 adjustable in position. The latter issecured to the end of one of the arms of a double armed lever 24 pivotedon a stationary pivot 25. An adjusting screw 26 permits of modifyin theposition of the stop 23 relativelyto the stationary support 22 and thus;modifying the cross sectional area of the passage 9 at the point ofcrushing of the sleeve produced The cover carries a cam I5 the directionof the support 22 by an amount sufilcient to produce such a deformationof the sleeve I I0 that the inner walls of the latter come into contactwith one another and close the passage 9 completely. As the form ofconstruc- In the form of construction shown Fig. 5,

passage 9 is formed by two sections of rigid tubing, of whichone formsthe upfiow IfIa and the other the downflow IIb, connected together by aflexible andresilient sleeve I Ic. nportion tion of the device shown inFig. 5 is provided for supplying the flame with a liquid fuel at thenormal temperature ofthe chamber and at atmospheric pressure, thepassage 9 has a capillary element 26' passing completely therethroughand dipping into the reserve of liquid fuel and assuring the supply tothe flame by capillarity. The capillary element 26 is thus more or lesscompressed at the point of crushing according to the value of the thrustapplied by the stop 23. In the'form of construction showndiagrammatically in 'Figsfi and 7, the passage 9 is formed by a tube IItwisted upon itself in the form ofa helix. The upper end of this tubecarries a toothed flange 21 gearing witha tangential screw or worm 28.The latter is guided in guides 29, 39 in which it can slide and turn. 0nthe free end of this screw is mounted a nut 3|, to which is hinged oneend of a rod 32. The other end of the rod is hinged to the cover 2.

By imparting to the worm 21 a movement of rotation in one direction orthe other, the user can twist the tube I I more or less about itself andin consequence produce the resilient deformations of its walls whichmodify the free cross sectional area of the passage 9 and thus adjustthe feed-of fuel .to the flame. During the closing of the cover, the rod32 presses the tangent screw 28 towards the right of the drawing, saidscrew, in the manner of a rack, imparting to the toothed wheel 21 amovement of rotation in a clockwise direction. This rotation of thetoothed wheel 2! produces a torsion of the tube II about itsaxis wherebyits opposite internal walls comeinto contact and thus produce afluidtight closure of the passage9. As shown in Fig. 6 the tube .may beprovided with an upfiow section Ila secured rigidly to the reservoir 8 arigid down'flow section I II) to which the toothed wheel 21 is securedand an intermediate section IIc of pliant and flexible material such asrubber, which alone is subjected to deformation bytorsion. However'yina'm'odified form of construction the passage'9 may-be formed by a tubemade in a single metal piece which is twisted spirally in its centralportion.

In the form of construction according to Fig. 8 the fuel reservoir 8 isprovided, fixed rigidly thereto in a fluidtight manner, with a tube 33sliding on'a rod 34 secured rigidly to the bottom of the reservoirS. Therod '34 is of a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the tube33 so as to provide *anannular passage 35. A'plastoresilient element 36placed into the'tube 33' rests on the end'of the'rod 34 and is appliedto this by a piston 31 carried by a hollow piston rod'38, guided inanaxial bore I9 of a screw I8'-screwed into the wall 29 of the body I andforming astop for a ring I1 secured rigidly to the piston rod.

The cover, not shown but assumed to be in the closed position, carries apusher 2|, adapted to act on the end of the piston rod 38 so as to moveit axially in the direction of the rod 34 and thus produce a crushing ofthe element 36. The thrust applied by the piston 31 on the element 36produces a swelling of the latter in such a manner that the peripheralwall comes into contact with the inner wall of the tube 33. The pistonis also provided with bores 39, 49 connecting the empty interior of thepiston rod 39 to the empty exterior of the tube 33 in the downfiow ofthe element 36. When the user opens the cover of the lighter, the thrustapplied to the piston rod 38 by the pusher 2| disappears in such amanner that under the influence of its natural elasticity, the element36 tends to assume its original state. Consequently, the piston 37 andits piston rod 38 are moved axially until the ring I! comes into contactwith the screw l8 and the peripheral wall of the element 36 leaves theinternal wall of the tube 33 thus allowing an annular passage to sub--sist enabling the fuel to rise through the bores 39, 49 and the emptyinterior of the rod 38 up to the burner, formed by the orifice II]. Bymodifying the axial position of the stop l8, the user has thepossibility of modifying the cross section of the annular passagelimited by the internal wall of the tube 33 and the peripheral wall ofthe plasto-resilient element 36 and therefore to adjust the feed of fuelto the flame of the lighter.

Finally a fiuidtight joint 4 I, formed by a sleeve connecting the tube33 to the rod 38 opposes the escape of the fuel.

In the form of construction of Fig. 9 which is in fact a modification ofthe form of construction in Fig. 8, the reservoir 8 carries a hollowelement 42 closed at its free end and having two parts, one 43 of largeexternal diameter and the other 44 of small external diameter, separatedby a shoulder 48. The part 44 is provided with radial holes 45 normallyclosed by a sleeve 46 of plasto-resilient material mounted tightly onthe part 44. A tube 49 sliding on the part 43 has an internal collar 4!bearing against the sleeve 46 which is thus tightened between the collar41 and the shoulder 48.

By moving the tube 49 axially the user has the possibility of more orless compressing the sleeve 46. But it is known that the axialcompression of such a sleeve of plasto-resilient material increases thediameter of its hollow interior. In consequence, a thrust applied to thetube 49 creates, between the internal wall of the sleeve and theexternal wall of the part 43 of the element 42, a passage enabling thefuel to escape. Thus, by modification of the axial position of the tube49, the user has the possibility of adjusting the supply of fuel of theflame of the lighter and even of interrupting completely this supply. Asin the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the device may beprovided with a stop, adjustable in position, defining the axialposition of the tube 49 when the cover of the lighter is in the openposition.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. and 11, the'tube I l iscrushed locally at l 2 in such a manner that the natural resiliency ofthe walls tends to close the passage 9 completely. A needle 50 placedinto this passage and movable along the axis of the latter, enables thewalls of the tube to be spaced apart at the crushed point and thusestablish communication between the upflow and downflow parts of this.According to the axial position imparted to the needle the crosssectional area at the point of. the crushing I2 is larger or smaller.Adjusting this axial position the user thus has the possibility ofadjusting the supply of fuel.

From the foregoing it has been admitted that the operation of thelighter necessitates the placing in communication of the reservoir 8with the burner 19 when the lighter is open and that this communicationshould be interrupted when the lighter is closed. In other knownlighters it is desired on the contrary tozinterrupt said communicationduring the opening of the cover and to re-establish it when closing thelatter. It will be understood that all the forms of constructiondescribed above may be adapted to such a supply to the flame of thelighter.

I claim:

1. A lighter, comprising, a casing, wall means in the casing and forminga tank holding fuel under pressure, a deformable fuel tube having itsinlet in the tank and including a portion having a passage of lessertransverse area than the area of the remaining tube portion, ignitingmeans in the casing in combustion proximity to the outlet end of thetube, adjustable means initially deforming the tube by bending toprovide in same the portion of lesser passage area, cover means movableto and from a position covering the outlet end of the tube and theigniting means and means operable by the cover means and deforming thetube to close said tube passage portion of lesser area.

2. The lighter according to claim 1, and wherein the tube includes atransversely crushed portion and the adjustable means initially bendsthe tube about the crushed portion.

3. The lighter according to claim 1, and wherein the tube includes atransversely crushed portion to provide a passage portion of lesser areaand wherein the adjustable means initially deforms the tube by bendingabout the crushed portion and wherein the operable means further bendsthe tube about the crushed portion.

CONRAD ZELLWEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,667,835 Blake May 1, 19282,153,432 Reich Apr. 4, 1939 2,459,042 Nave et a1. Jan. 11, 19492,480,397 Crockett Aug. '30, 1949 2,482,794 Peterson Sept. 27, 1949FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 357,395 Germany Aug. 24, 1922842,622 France Mar. 6, 1939 157,429 Austria Nov. 25, 1939

